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Our history

Great Ormond Street Hospital (then known as The Hospital for Sick Children) opened its doors at 49 Great Ormond Street on Valentine's Day 1852 with 10 beds.

It has since become one of the world’s leading children’s hospitals, housing the widest range of specialists under one roof.

Great Ormond Street Hospital (GOSH) was founded by Dr Charles West, who was driven by the shockingly high level of infant mortality in the capital. It was the first hospital in the UK dedicated solely to the treatment of children.

The hospital itself

GOSH started life in a 17th century townhouse with just 10 beds and two physicians. Since then, the hospital has been in a constant state of redevelopment to update ageing wards which have become unsuitable for the treatment of seriously ill children.

History of fundraising

Prior to becoming part of the NHS in 1948, GOSH was known as a voluntary hospital, running fundraising campaigns for new buildings from the 1850s onwards.

In the early decades of the NHS, private fundraising was heavily restricted, but the hospital was allowed to continue receiving legacies.

In 1982, the government relaxed restrictions on charitable fundraising by individual hospitals. This allowed GOSH to initiate the hugely successful national Wishing Well Appeal of 1987–8, which raised £54 million to fund the Variety Club Building.

Great Ormond Street Hospital Children’s Charity became a separate legal entity from the hospital in 1998.